GERMAN SPIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1920, Page 5

GERMAN SPIES.

CLEVER WORK IN ENGLAND. A CIGAR CODE REVEALED. By Telegraph.—Press Assa.—Copyright, Received Feb. fi, 12.25 a.m. London, Feb. 5. The Morning [Post gives an interesting record of Germany's spy system and the British counter espionage organisation, which was go effective by the summer of 1915 that seven spies were taken in one fortnight, thus paralysing Germany's echemes to re-establish the spy system in Britain. A feather in the cap of the organisation was the capture of two Dutchmen named Janssen and Roos. Suspicions were aroused by numerous telegrams Irani naval ports to The Hague, apparently ordering cigars-. This was considered remarkable, as sailors are. not in the habit of smoking cigars. So the senders were arrested. Jansscn and Roos were examined, when they claimed to be travellers on behalf of Dierks and Company, of The Hague. When examined Janssen and Roos gave contradictory explanations. -The prosecution showed that Dierks' address was the same as the German secret service in Holland. Next day Roos endeavored to commit suicide by cutting his manacled wrists with the broken glass of a door. The cigar code was found to refer to naval secrets, "Havanas" meaning light cruisers, and "Coronas" battleships.

Janssen and Boos were convicted and shot at the miniature rifle range in the Tower. They faced the firing parties bravely.

Neutrals in Holland and elsewhere thus learned that an espionage mission to England was most difficult. Thence forward Germany only sent casual spies, who pretended to be commercial travellers. They tried to get away before their movements aroused suspicion.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '